Automatic mill-stop



N. M. GIDLEY.

AUTOMATIC MILL STOP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1919.

1,341,268, Patented May 25, 1920.

l zy 2.

Eli wanted w M ciZey,

UNITED STATES NICHOLAS M. GIDLEY, 0F OXFORD, ALABAMA.

AUTOMATIC MILL-STOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2?, 1920.

Application filed August 12, 1919. Serial No. 316,971.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS M. GInLnY, a citizen of the Unlted States, residing at Oxford in the count of Calhoun and State 7 t of Alabama, have invented a new and nsetul Automatic Mill-Stop, of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to means for automatically controlling internal combustion engines, and more particularly to attachments used with gas engines employed in connection with grist mills, and operates in combination with the feed bins or hoppers thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character for auto matically stopping the internal combustion engine when the material within the hopper or supply bin has reached a predetermined level, or when the material has exhausted therefrom.

A. further object of the invention is to provide means for locking the valve controlling rod against movement, to prevent admission of a charge to the engine, and consequently stop the engine and grinding machinery, thereby eliminating wear of the mill. rocks, or burs, caused by the mill run ning empty.

With theforegoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and ar 'angemcnt of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 indicates a longitudinal sectional view throi'igh a. hopper showing the paddle in the position when the hopper empty and showing its connection with a gas eninc.

Fig. 2 illustrates a longitiulinal sectional view showing the position of the controlling paddle when the hopper is filled with grain.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the cam pinion.

Fig. 4; is a sectional view of the valve rod showing the locking elements in ino ierative position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the valve rod, showing the locking elements in their locked position, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of a gasolene engine, showing the fly wheel partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the base of the engine, which includes upwardly tending supporting arms 6, in which is journaled the shaft 7, which in turn supports the fly wheel 8 of the engine associated therewith and. not shown.

Pivotally secured to the hub 9 of the fly wheel 8, is the pivoted lever 10, having the governor 11 formed at one end thereof which includes the weights .12, held in their inoperative position by the coil springs 12, and moved out vardly, due to the centrifugal force of the fly wheel, which in turn causes a movci'nenit of the collar 13, longitudinally of the shaft 7, said collar, being splined on the shaft to permit the same to revolve there with, and at the same time move longitudinally thereof.

As shown, the lovers 10 have their right angle portions engaging within the collar, whereby movement of the lever ii) is transmitted to the collar.

The horizontal shaft 14:, which has connection with the frame 15, supports a pinion 16, which meshes with the pinion 17 mounted to move with the shaft 7, said pinion 17 transmittin rotary movement to the pinion 16, which in turn imparts riivtary movement to the cam 18, i moving the valve controlling rod 19 horizontally, said cam 18, as shown, engaging the extren'ie end of the valve controlling rod 19.

One end of the shaft i l extends laterally beyond the pinion 1G, and has a pivotalv connection with the horizontally swinging arm 20, as at 21. The end 22 of lid arm engages with the collar 13, whereby movement of the collar longitudinally of the shaft 7' rocks the arm to move the end 23 thereof into engagement with the valve controlling rod 19.

The end 23 of the arm 20 is provided with a head 24L which carries the pin 25 adapted to move into the aperture 26 of the valve controlling rod 19, for holding the valve controlling rod against horizontal movement, and since the valve controlling rod has connection with the intake valves of the gas engine, not shown, it will be seen that when the rod 19 is locked against horizontal movement, the valves, will not operate, with the result that the supply of fuel to the engine will be cut oil". It of course follows that the engine will stop running, and the grist mill, which is connected with the engine, will be thrown out of operation.

The arm 27 is pivoted to swing upwardly, the-forked end 28 thereof normally lying in a plane directly over the valve controlling rod 19, and head 24 of the arm 20, so that when the flexible connection 29 loses its tension the arm 27 moves downwardly, and the forked end 28 thereof .clamps the pin 25 within the opening 26 of the valve controlling rod 19, as clearly shown by Fig. 6 of the drawing.

It is of course understood that the operation of the rod 27 is controlled by the movement of the grain within the hopper 30, the hopper 30 having connection with the arm 27 through the medium of the flexible connection 29, which in its normal position, or operating position, is held under tension.

The hopper 30, is provided with openings 31 in the inclined lower walls thereof, through which extends the horizontal shaft 32, which has the bolt and nut securing means 33 rigidly connected thereto, said bolt being disposed within the slot 34: of the shank 35, which is an integral part of the paddle 36, the same being adapted to swing within the hopper.

When the hopper is filled with grain, the controlling paddle 36 is moved by the operator into the position as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawing, said paddle being held in a vertical position by the grain in the hopper, and when the same is in this position, the flexible member 29 is held under tension since one end thereof is secured to the pulley 37, secured to the shaft 32, the opposite end being connected to rod 27, to hold the same in its inoperative position.

It is of course obvious that rotary movement of the pulley 37 in one direction, or in the direction toward the engine, causes the flexible member 29 to become slack, with the result that the arm 27 falls downwardly into the position as indicated by Fig. 6, whereupon the valve controlling rod 19 is locked against horizontal movement.

After the engine has stopped running, due to the operation of the locking element cutting off the supply of fuel thereto, it is necessary to refill the hopper 30, reset the paddle 36 and move the member 28 to the position shown by Fig. 5, the flexible member 29 being held under tension due to the position of the pulley 37, the member 28 be ing held in such position, till the grain in the hopper 30, has been exhausted.

Having thus described the what is claimed is 1. In combination with an internal combustion engine, and the valve controlling rod thereof, said valve controlling rod having an opening in one of the side faces thereof, a locking arm carrying a pin, adapted to move into the opening of the valve controlling rod for locking the same against horizontal movement, and means including invention,

a hopper and paddle for controlling the' locking arm.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine, and the valve controlling rod thereof, a locking arm, governor controlled means for operating the locking arm, means for securing one end of the locking arm into engagement with the valve controlling rod, and means including a hopper and controlling paddle for moving the last mentioned means.

3. In combination with the valve controlling rod of an internal combustion engine, a stopping device including a governor controlled rod cooperating with the valve controlling rod for holding the valve controlling rod in a predetermined position, a locking member having a forked extremity adapted to embrace the valve controlling rod and governor controlled rod for securing said governor controlled rod and valve controlling rod together, a hopper, a paddle supported within the hopper and held in a predetermined position by grain within the hopper, and means for connecting the locking member and paddle, whereby movement of the paddle produces a relative movement of the locking member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

NICHOLAS M. GIDLEY.

Witnesses:

W. L. RHODES, C. V. lVIn'rEsnm. 

